I am a doctor, who over the past 20 years has practiced clinical psychology in Georgetown, as well as serving as a professor, author (represented by Dupree/Miller), & commentator on CNN, the BBC & NBC News. Also, as a graduate of Georgetown Law, I comment, teach, lecture & expert witness on issues that bear on both psychology & law.

Head of State focuses on the psychology of politics, politicians, & the media that surrounds them.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Grover Norquist's smug, self-serving reign of opportunistic terror, like that of the "Twilight Zone" child who is given power far beyond his temperamental capacities or basic infantile selfishness, looks to be finally coming to an end.

As reported by The Hill, Republicans are abandoning Norquist's "pledge" in droves, as they recognize in increasing numbers that there is far more electoral power in exposing and castigating Norquist than there has been in blindly cowtowing to his scheme.

Of the Republicans newly elected to the House, a dozen have openly rejected Norquist's "pledge"--an outcome unimaginable just a year ago, but clearly only the beginning of the crest of the wave.

Combined with the incumbent House members who have also recognized that it is in their greater interest to reject the "pledge", the result falls below the number of members necessary for a majority in the House.

The Senate has fallen to only 39 "pledge" holdouts, also far below the number necessary for a majority.

Norquist responded to the curtain being drawn back from his coercive lair in an interview with Norah O'Donnell, in which he provided the incisive and original electoral analysis that he believed Mitt Romney lost to President Obama because, according to Norquist, the President had called Romney a "poopyhead". Yes, Norquist actually said this.

The Hill details Norquist's decreased impact:

Norquist’s diminished clout could have ramifications during
intensifying negotiations over the so-called “fiscal cliff” and a grand
bargain on taxes, spending and entitlements that leaders in both parties
want to strike in the coming months.

In the wake of President
Obama’s reelection, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said
Republicans could accept a deal that includes new revenue under certain
conditions

Those who have now cast the "pledge" aside come from a wide variety of states. They represent a broad cross-spectrum of electoral positions.

What they share is a desire to no longer be bound by a "pledge." Rather, they intend to act as freely chosen elected representatives of the people. The Hill:

“I don’t want to sign a pledge that’s going to tie my hands,” Ted Yoho, a
GOP congressman-elect from Florida, told The Hill. “I need free rein to
do what I think is right for the people in my district and the
country.”

Susan Brooks, a newly elected Republican from Indiana, offered a similar
explanation on the campaign trail, spokeswoman Dollyne Pettingill
Sherman said. “She just took the position that she was not going to sign
pledges,” she said. “That doesn’t mean she’s for tax increases. She’s
not. She was very clear about it.”